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Wednesday 16 July 2008

The Independent, friend of the waiter!

Despite all the current woes in the world - economic melt down, crisis in Africa, those crazy Iranians, not to mention the even crazier Iraqi kerfuffle the hallowed and blessed Independent newspaper yesterday lead with,

"Revealed: How the restaurant chains pocket your tips."
oi, step away from the tips motherfucker......

They'll not be getting mine let me tell you! I've covered this a few times before. It's well worth a read even if it makes the blood boil. Well done to Martin Hickman, Simon Usborne, and Andrew Grice for a great bit of work. Free drinks all round.

And big slices of boo and hiss and go fuck yourselves to Carluccio's, Café Rouge, Chez Gerard, Strada, Pizza Express, and Café Uno for screwing with what shouldn't be screwed with and taking what's not theirs.

Read the full article here

Past stuff from WDF can be found here and here

22 People trying to get Manuel's attention:

Anonymous said...

I agree with everything you have said and what is in the article. The answer lies in proper wage legislation.

Most of the chains you mentioned are in the Republic too and they have to follow proper wage practice of paying 100% of the minimum wage.
As for the tips, most of them don't take the cash tips from the waiters and the credit card tips are put through the books to be taxed, which is fair for everyone.

Companies will only abuse loopholes and shitty laws until they're rectified.

If all else fails, join a union. Although maybe they could get sacked for that too?

Megan McGurk said...

It's flat out criminal to steal from your own employees. Patrons believe that the waiters get the tips so they should disclose the policy and print it on their menus.
Fuckers.

Jenny said...

If I'm dining with friends, I tip with cash. But if it's a business lunch/dinner then it kinda needs to go on the credit card, and that sucks.

I think restaurants that DON'T steal tips from their employees should advertise this... because I'd be happy to only patronize them.

Paddy in BA (Quickroute) said...

Those chains and more do the same in London and needless to say the service is shite!

Anonymous said...

it is fricken disgustin that place are pocketing 100% tips - but i have just one question.

what percentage of tips make it to 'back of house'?


Yours, former KP,
Toast

Anonymous said...

Hopefully Maxi Cane is right about chains in the Republic having to foolow propor wage practice; I was in Carluccis in Dublin last week.
I always tip in cash as I don't trust the owners to pass it on.

Anonymous said...

Anon Boxer has a good point there.
2 similar restaurants beside each other, one is thieving bastard, the other lets the staff keep the tips.
I know which one I'll go to.

As far as the article goes about tips paid by credit card...fair enough if the manager rakes off the 3 or 4% or whatever in fees that gets deducted by visa or mastercard, as long as the rest goes to the staff.

As for me, it's hard cold cash only to the person that served me.

Fuck the taxman!

Mudflapgypsy said...

I tip with cash at all times, never by card.

Manuel said...

maxi: yes well said. It's the fact that these fucking leaches consider it an okay practice when they know there is no moral justification for it......

medbh: it is, it is flat out criminal....

boxer: great point

quickie: pay peanuts.....etc

toast: 10% to the kp's.......more than enough, they's only spend it on drugs......true story

anfearbui: your distrust is well placed.....

dave: cash rules!

muddy: as above......!

Unknown said...

I read that article and couldn't believe my eyes. Someone must be dealing with a PR disaster this morning. Hopefully.

I'm with Dave: cash on the money straight to the honey. As it were.

Manuel said...

english mum: they have been doing it for ages and getting away with it.....you would have thought they would have a red face......at least!

Anonymous said...

Named and shamed! As EM says, someone must be dealing with a PR nightmare today. Will be interesting to see the offending parties' response.

I always leave cash tips, no matter what the assurances are about where the money goes. I'm paranoid like that.

Manuel said...

jen: I very much doubt anything will change until legislation is brought in.......cash is the only way round it.....

Anonymous said...

As a manager myself I can't understand why others take their staffs' tips.

The staff are the ones doing all the bloody hard work and if they do a good job they should be rewarded. Management get enough perks without having to steal from staff.

And a percentage to back of house is only decent practice too.

Manuel said...

maxi: it's beggars belief......but greed is a terrible thing......as for the boh monkeys.......they only waste the money they are given......drugs, booze, playstation games......pfft......hehehehe

The Mistress said...

Time for a full list of offenders to be published so we can boycott them.

Manuel said...

mj: on it.........I'll report back presently.......or next week......

B said...

If you take the tip politely out of their own wallet yourself nice and discretely, your employees will never know.

Anonymous said...

I have a habit of watching where my tip goes, I don't like to put it in the bill folder. If I get good service, then I tip in cash into the hand of the waiter, with a 'thank you', if they decide to pool it or put it their pocket I don't look!

Why is it the chains with the shittest products that do that anyway, are they that desperate?

Mr. DNA said...

That's why I only tip gold.

I'm a fricken saint.

Blondefabulous said...

They just had a big brouhaha over here at Starbucks about management taking tips that were meant for the barristas. Big ol' lawsuit and the barristas won!! Kick their ass and take back what belongs to you!

Manuel said...

b: cheeky mook....

queenie: hello! how have you been? Yeah it is those guys with the shit food that seem to be at it.......very odd. Very disappointed with Pizza Express, I used to like them.....

mr dna: yes, yes you are hahahahaha

blondie: god bless em! more power!